Reply With QuoteCongrats on your new arrival. What a lovely looking example!
For some time I have wanted a SS white faced Daytona and looking at the amount of WTBs that have appeared over the past few months, I am not alone. But which model to buy ?
In an ideal world I would have trotted into my local AD and bought a new Ceramic, but the best offer I had was from Goldsmiths who allowed me to go on about page 5 of their waiting list and said we look forward to ringing you in about 6 to 7 years time.
Given the above, what are the alternatives. As most people will have observed the prices of the discontinued 116520 models are rapidly increasing in value as are all the earlier models. Purely personal taste, but I have always preferred the white faced Zenith 16520 with the black Sub dial rings (now brought back on the new ceramic) to the later 116520, but as these have been out of production for some 16 years it is becoming extremely difficult to find reasonably priced good examples.
Anyway, to cut a long story sideways, last week I managed to find the attached and bought it.
The watch has a U serial number denoting a 1997 watch. It has the Mark 4 16520 dial and has the original 78390 bracelet with polished central links and has 503B endlinks and a clasp code U5 denoting May 1998 - so all good and correct there. The watch came with a Rolex Service Card from December 2012, but it is keeping good time so no issues on that front. If I can get two years before servicing again I would be happy with that. The watch also came with inner and outer boxes and all the booklets, which are nice to have but are now in the back of the wardrobe.
Like others, I would never regard a watch as an investment, but if current trends continue and the watch is looked after there is no reason why it wouldn't increase in value over the longer term and if that phone call ever came from Goldsmiths I would always have option of selling the Zenith on in order to free up funds for the newer model if that is what I wanted to do at that time.
I see this as a solution to the Daytona dilema, buy now and enjoy, get on a list somewhere for a new one and then no need to do anything more.
Thanks for reading,
Ken
Last edited by Wallasey Runner; 18th December 2016 at 20:49.
Congrats on your new arrival. What a lovely looking example!
Nice pick-up there.
Personally, it's by far my favourite modern Daytona, and I have no doubt that it will be more appreciated than its ceramic cousin before very long. They're all good watches, but for me, the brushed lugs, steel bezel and black subdial rings are an unbeatable combination among the automatic Daytonæ.
The fact that it contains the last significantly-handmade movement that Rolex ever produced doesn't hurt, either; the 4030 is something a bit special. The movement's relatively limited numbers kept the production numbers for the stainless model significantly below demand for the duration of the production run, too. Personally, I can think of few better combinations of wearability and collectibility — but the main thing is that I simply like the way they look. :)
Last edited by Belligero; 18th December 2016 at 19:40.
Congrats Ken - lovely.
Very nice, the Zenith Daytona is a modern classic. Definitely nicer with the white dial rather than the black. I never realised the 116520 was going up in value until you mentioned it. A quick google suggests that they are upwards of £10k. This must seems to having a knock on effect on the Zenith Daytona as well
Hi Wallasey
I also recently bought a white faced 16520 because it looks nicer than a 166520 (yes subjective I know) with its slimmer batons and more pleasingly placed sub dials. .
Also the black rings in the sub dials make it far more legible that the 166520.
The only downsides to the 16520 are the older style bracelet and the fact that the pushers are harder to push than the 166520.
It is a nice watch and you will enjoy it.
Regards
Mick
Last edited by Mick P; 18th December 2016 at 19:05.
The worlds gone bloody mad, so where does that put a 6263 price wise. Nice watch Ken by the way.
Last edited by bobdog; 18th December 2016 at 19:06.
Bob, I have to say that your 6263 is the nicest watch on this forum - just a personal opinion. Value wise it will have gone through the roof, a year or so ago these started at £25k upwards, but if you look now there is nothing below £35k. I think your watch could be truly described as an investment.Originally Posted by bobdog
Love this watch and far better looking than my 116520...
Good on you Ken and well done on finding one in such great condition.
Lovely! I much prefer this over the ceramic version!
Thanks for the positive comments - much appreciated. I also wanted to get the message out to those placing WTBs, the chances of someone on here selling is extremely slim and it might just be worth grabbing a good one off a dealer before the prices go much higher and you can still have the option of a Ceramic in slower time if that's what's really wanted.
The Daytona has never really been on my radar but that really is lovely WR. Probably the only Daytona that I really like. I'm sure there are lots of people on the ceramic bandwagon because of the exclusivity. Great choice!
Congratulations, that is a fantastic looking watch.
A massive 'd'oh' to me for turning down a NOS example 18 months ago for £7k!!!!!
Congrats on the watch, a real belter
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Probably at least $35,000 USD for something good.The worlds gone bloody mad, so where does that put a 6263 price wise. Nice watch Ken by the way.
Two beautiful watches being discussed here. Congrats to Ken on his new Daytona and as for the one in the previous post - wow! Both stunning.
Good pick up Ken - I'm a bit mixed between this and the 116520. Just got the 116520 at a good price. In an ideal world I'd get both! Looks in good nick and as you say, the Zenith models are slowly getting out of hand...
It's all down to personal choice, the later model did have the improved bracelet and I am sure that the new one on the ceramic is even better still, that's just progress. Straight forward appreciation was in my thinking, I preferred the Black Sub dial rings on the earlier model, equally there are people who prefer the black dial to the white one.
It is interesting looking at the picture of Bob's watch with the black insert. It looks balanced and totally fits in with the watch, yet on the new ceramic I am inclined to think the bods at Rolex made a mistake by making the insert look bigger and somewhat clunky - so new isn't always better. That said, I would still have the new model.
A lot of dealers are now selling the new model at close to £16k and that has had an impact on all the previous models which have been discontinued. So as they disappear into collections good ones will get harder to find and as a consequence prices will continue to rise - I hope !!
Wow, that 6263.
Official watches have one at ..........£49kThe worlds gone bloody mad, so where does that put a 6263 price wise. Nice watch Ken by the way.
I did say the prices were going up quickly. Even the early dial versions of the 16520 are reaching eye watering prices. The holy grail is a SS porcelain white dial, which was only done for a very short time in 1988 with the R serial number and mark 1 floating dial. A couple are listed on Chrono 24 between £45k and £60k.
Bloody hell, it looks like a world cruise is on the cards, now where did I put it?
Well done Bob, the drinks are on you...
6263 is a stunner!! I'd be thrilled with a nice SS Daytona of just about any configuration but that one is a beauty.
I find that I change taste almost daily however. Today I'd opt for white dial, black sub dials..... but tomorrow I will likely be looking and think 'oh I like that!' And it will be black dial..... whatever I eventually buy I know I'll think 'should have gone for a....'
I wouldn't say that the newest version is superior to its immediate predecessor in any way; it's merely different. The 116520 and 116500LN are identical except for the bezel material and the colour of the subdial rings on the white-dialled version.
Personally, while I prefer the current variant's black subdial rings, I find that the chunky black bezel is a bit overstyled and doesn't go terribly well with the polished lugs and centre links — I still can't shake the slightly TAG-Heuer-esque impression this combination gives me — so it's a wash.
Fortunately, the 16520 offers what I feel are the best visual features of both of its descendants, with the bonus of an all-brushed option; the 78360 bracelet on 503 endlinks is also correct for this watch.
Here's a handy reference showing the significant differences over the years:
image source: oysterclub japan
Agreed, I was just making the point that new models in the main do tend to come with some improvements, especially in the bracelets. Think of the Sub and SD and the rattly old 9315 with the folded links, replaced by the 93150 which people still regard as a good bit of kit. But the latest models are fitted with the newer bracelet with the micro adjustment on the strap. That was the point I was getting at.
I also agree with the bezel insert on the new Ceramic does look clunky and I mentioned this earlier, compare it to Bob's 6263 and there is no comparison in my opinion. The 6263 looks balanced and right for the watch, the new one on the ceramic and the font used is a little too big. So no improvement there.
Indeed. I just find it funny that the hype for the latest model is over changes that are exclusively cosmetic. :)
I agree that the ceramic bezel's type selection is a bit un-subtle, though that's a (somewhat) subjective matter. In general, Rolex seems to be going with various weights of off-the-rack Eurostile as its signature look, which I feel is a loss considering some of the lovely bespoke and hand-lettered work that they used previously.
The markers, however, are a definite example of (over)styling taking precedence over substance; the index triangles are pointing the wrong way, which impairs legibility. The fine dashes and lines on the earlier models are more precise — not that anyone actually uses the tachymeter. But it's the principle of the thing. :P
Last edited by Belligero; 20th December 2016 at 12:59.
Great looking watch!
has a balance that is lacking in most versions imvho
When I sent my 16520 into St James', they refused to refurb the original bracelet. I thought it was in pretty decent condition, but being Rolex, they didn't and offered to sell me a brand new 116520 bracelet for a quite reasonable price, which was much less than you could buy one for online.
I then sent the original bracelet off to a specialist who returned it fully spruced up and rebuilt.
So I now wear it on the newer style bracelet with solid end links and no jingly jangly noise at all. While the original one sits safe and sound with the box and papers.
Best of both worlds in my opinion.
It does seem odd that the cheapest place to buy an OEM bracelet is from Rolex themselves.
Here's a snap of it just back from service and looking gorgeous with its superior balck face.
Last edited by mr noble; 21st December 2016 at 12:32.
Superior black face ? Very nice and those sub dial rings are aging nicely.When I sent my 16520 into St James', they refused to refurb the original bracelet. I thought it was in pretty decent condition, but being Rolex, they didn't and offered to sell me a brand new 116520 bracelet for a quite reasonable price, which was much less than you could buy one for online.
I then sent the original bracelet off to a specialist who returned it fully spruced up and rebuilt.
So I now wear it on the newer style bracelet with solid end links and no jingly jangly noise at all. While the original one sits safe and sound with the box and papers.
Best of both worlds in my opinion.
It does seem odd that the cheapest place to buy an OEM bracelet is from Rolex themselves.
Here's a snap of it just back from service and looking gorgeous with its superior balck face.
Do you mind me asking what they charged for the replacement bracelet. I assume Rolex being Rolex you could only buy that if it was part of the service package. PM me if you don't want to put it out on here. I have seen some crazy prices quoted for new bracelets. So they didn't throw the replacement angle at you, they let you buy a new one and keep the old one.
Would you swop yours for a new Ceramic if someone offered you the chance ?
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